Awning



May 8, 1951 R. F. wHlTFlELD AWNING 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 17, 1947 IN VEN TOR.

BRobe/'W/zp' M q M M M May 8, 1951 R. F. WHITFIELD AWNING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1"(, 1947 INVENTOR. Robert E Wlziyield. BY

Patenteci May 8, 19.51

UNITED STATES 1-PlfkTfE'liT OFFICE 2',"551,91"7 lWNING Robert F. Whitfield, .lachsom'Miss Appiicatiomocmber Y17, 1947, serial Nei-7:81462 2 claims. (cl. ca -57.5)

The present invention relates toawnings and more particularly toawnings formed of adjustable slats adaptedto provide protection from the weather Awhile Simultaneously providing ample ventilation.

-It is anV object of theinventionto provide novel means for mountingslat type awnings, whereby `simple and rapid adjustment of the -slats isae- 'complished with one operating member. y Y

`Another object is-to develop aspecialmounting arrangement for the awning'slats, whichis very economical to manufacture, durable and highly eihcient in opera-tion.

A-further-object is to provide'a novel supporting bracket for a-'slat type 4avvrn'ng adapted to cooperatively-co-act with'a special yslat mounting arrangement. Y l

`Broaclly `the present invention comprises an awning` sloped downwardly -irpm a novel -support means mountedover Can opening -tolbesheltered thereby, said-awning being'composed of a plu-'- rality Vof ltiltable slats lform-ed from metal, glass, Masonte, wood orkanly otherdesirablemateriaL and'means operable `fromV the `interior side' of a framework or gwallb aro-und `the ropeningtoiregulate the positions ofthe awning slats.

The above -andfother objects -zand advantages of the invention Awill .appear vmore `fully thereinafter from ,a 4consideration of the detailed description which'follows, ltaken together with the accompanying drawings wherein two :embodiments are illustrated.

In the drawings wherein .like reference characters refer to like. parts throughout theseveral views,

Figure lis a side elevation viewrof theinvention installed over a window.

Figure 2 `is ayfront elevation ,view ofithe awning and the single operator ,system therefor.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of another ,embodiment of my invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary front view1of vthe bracket to show the mounting of the slat vopera-ting means for Figure 3. y

Referring more specifically to the'drawingls and rst with particular referencel to Figure'v2', there is shown one embodiment of the awning applied over a window Y opening.A The awning comprises a structure formed of a plurality of slats l pivotally connected in spaced apartrelation to oneor more front vstraps I5 and relatively s'horter rear straps' I1. Each slathas a longitudinalrolled marginal edge l' 4. Thisfedge provides Aa hollow Velongated. tube alongthe length of each slat which servsas af fulcrum-or pivot peint. Opposite thevat surface of each ofthe straps lli 'and ill, the `tubular edges are formed vwith -slots l3to=receive eye bolts i9, see Fig. `1.

The eye `bolts 1li)y include a lparted .eyelet head portion `2l) and a Lthre'adshank L21 on which is mounted a-washe'r andlnu't 22. The bolts l@ are connectedtothe-strapsI5 Aand l'llby securing the parted eyelet 2U around lthe rolled Aedge `i4 through eachlslo'tl. The shankl ofeacheye bolt E19 projects throug'h one Aof a plurality Aof openings ors1ots:25'lformed irl-thestraps-at equidistantly spaced intervals and the washer and nuit -2-2 arethienapplied yonithe shank.

The front andiriear-strapsllBandi l are preferably arranged `inalignedp'airs non each side and near leach-end lof the Aslats -I-U, land 4are arranged to i be moved longitudinally inopposite directions -to each-other'topivot the-fslats-to open and closed positionsas Shownin-LFigure 1 by-the solid and dotted line positions. Toprovideforthe `actuation of Ithe slats',v to ytheir respective positions, -I have developed -a novel -top bracket, preferably one for leach `side* 0f 'the awning, comprised Y of a pair tif-supporting legs Si and SZadapted to be se'curedby suitable means, -such as bolts -or-screws -33''t01a-Vertica1 vWalloIbOiy 35.

Thelegs 3l Aan'd 32-ofeachrbracket`3-converge from the attaching surface 35, and-are secured together` ltoiorm la Singlefoblique -orangular arm -36 ffrom wall 3F. 4This arm 136 Lmay, `as shown, `be a continuation of lth'e Vleg members and at its lower end "isv formedinto-a loop '4i-7i Ito encircle `a shaft 38. This shaftyfis vmounted on the flat surface ofthe top slat I by'straps 39 which loop around the*shaftand--areriveted to sla-ti o transv rsely.- Thejarm-SAG `entendsjdownwardly in an angularfplanesubstantiallyparallel to that of the straps l`5 ar1d ',lf'lland'thus Vextends through a `T- shapedfopehing' 9d in the slat ll il 'and pivots on sha-ft 38.y "It-l is-prima 'the angle of the arm 3S which-determines the jugular position of the entire'jawni-ngfrom the Spidejofthe building, porch or jot-her *structure "to which `it is fastened.

V",Ihe'leg-of feach bracket `i3 is formed of `iiat strapmaterialvand vServes torsupport-thetop portion-ofthe awning, 4v vhich makes anish against the ,head casi-ng or fvvallf3'5`. Thisnish keepsra-i-n `and snow froinseepiri'g inside kthe awninga'tlthe top. This top por-tionf the awning 4comprises a double-slat;onepartbeiiig*af1at1barorsiatitil, andthe other part aslatM'f-pivoted to the front marginaledge o'fithe slat'l by hinges d'2. The slat 4l iis lorrned-alon'g firent 1if1arg`inal edge with alublai'Drtlldentical With the :tubular edg -l 0f thflllwidth SIatSIU, sOiaS to pivot- 3 ally connect with the top end of the longer front straps I5 by means of the eyelet bolts I9, while the shorter rear strap I'I is pivoted to the topmost full-width slat I below the lower leg 32 of the bracket 30.

Thus there is provided by the bracket 30 a twopoint suspension at each bracket around shaft 38 and hinge 42 with floating pivot points at the top ends of the front and rear straps I and I'I, respectively, to thereby permit adjustment of the slats as shown in Figure 1.`

Special means for adjusting the awning slats is provided and comprises a shaft 50 extending from inside a building wall window casing, porch railing or other barrier around an opening to and beyond the exterior side thereof, see Figures 1 and 2. On the inner endof the shaft 50 is a sprocket 5I and operating chain 5Ia, while on the outer end of the shaft is a bevel gear 52, which meshes with a larger bevel gear 53 journalled on a stub shaft 54 carried by the bracket 30 at its outer edge. Fastened to the longitudinal edge of the arm 36 of the bracket by looped straps 55 and 56 is a second shaft 58.

Keyed to each end of shaft 58 are upper and lower bevel gears 60 and 6I, respectively. The upper bevel gear 68 meshes with gear 53, while bevel gear 6I meshes with a bevel gear 63 keyed to the shaft 38 mounted on the top slat IU as previously described by rivets and straps 39. This gear 63 projects through the T-opening 39a in the slat I0.

The lower end of the awning is secured to the wall 35 or the like at each side of the opening to be protected by brackets 65, see Fig. l. These brackets in turn secure to each end edge of the bottom slat I8 by means of a split pin 66. This pin is turnably mounted on the upturned end 68 of the brackets 65 by means of a looped strap 18 fastened thereon by bolt or rivet 1I. For example, the split part of the pin 66 slides over the end of the slat Ill and is retained in the loop of strap 'I8 by a set screw not shown. However, to allow for turning of the pin 66 in the loop the strap is formed with an elongated slot, not shown, so that the set screw can oscillate therein when the slat and pin 66 are turned during slat adjustment.

Thus the lower portion of the awning is well supported and made sufficiently stable to resist the strain and stress imposed thereon by the sprocket and gear actuating mechanism.

Operation Assuming that the awning has its slats in their open position for maximum air and light'reception and it is desired to adjust the slats to provide protection from a rain and wind storm, which has suddenly developed. All that is necessary is to pull the chain 5Ia and impart rotation to sprocket 5I and shaft 50, which in turn through bevel gears 52 and 53 will turn bevel gears 60 and 6I and the shaft 58. This turning of the shaft 58 operates gear 63 keyed to shaft 38 and secured to the top slat I0, thereby imparting a tilting motion to it and to all the remaining slats as well as the top half-slat 4I.

Because of the shorter length of the rear strap II, its top end moves as indicated by the arrow freely under the lower leg of the bracket 38.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 3 and 4 the operating mechanism is dierent, but the slats I0 and straps I5 and II are identical. For example, the bracket 30 is formed with an angle brace 80 with a plane surface, above the leg 32 of the bracket. Mounted on this brace is a stub shaft 8I on which is journalled a sprocket wheel 82. This wheel rotates in slots 84 formed through the leg 32 and the plane surface of brace 80. Looped over the sprocket wheel 82 is chain 83. One end of the chain connects to the shank 2I of a front fastener for front strap I5 and the other to the shank 2| of a rear fastener for rear strap I'I.

At one end of the shaft 8| is a Worm drive comprising a gear 85, which is driven by a worm gear 86 on the end of actuator shaft 5U. A

To operate the slats IIJ with this form of the invention, rotation is imparted to shaft 50 from inside the building by pulling on chain 5Ia. This imparts rotation to the sprocket wheel 82, which in turn actuates the sprocket chain 83 to cause movement of the slats I0.

Thus I have provided a novel awning which is durable, economical to manufacture and so assembled and mounted as to provide a highly efficient control of the same by the simple manipulation of one control lever.

While only two embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, other changes and modifications which will now appear to those skilled in the art may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. To determine the scope of the invention reference should be had to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination of a slat-type awning and means for operating said awning from within a building wall, said awning including a plurality of pivoted slats supported by brackets at top and bottom pivoted to the respective upper and lower awning slats, a top pivoted slat above the upper awning slat, a chain and sprocket shaft extending from inside the wall along a leg of one of said brackets, a gear on an end of said shaft, a second shaft carried by a second leg of said bracket having lower and upper ends, gears on each end of said second shaft, an idler gear rotatably supported by the top end of said second leg, a third shaft secured to one of the awning slats below the said top pivoted slat, a gear on an extended end thereof in mesh with a gear on the lower end of said second shaft, said gear on the upper end of said second shaft meshing with said idler gear, said gear on said sprocket shaft also meshing with said idler gear, rigid means interconnecting the pivoted slats, and a chain and a sprocket on the said sprocket shaft for imparting rotation to said shafts and gears to pivot the awning slats to open or closed position.

2. An awning of a type having a plurality of movable slats, said awning including a top portion having a rear non-pivoted part and a, front pivoted part above said pivoted slats, angular supporting brackets pivotally connected to the top pivoted slot of the said awning and supporting said top portion above said top pivoted awning slat, front and rear strap members pivotally connected to each longitudinal edge of each of the slats, said front straps being longer than said rear straps and having their respective top ends pivoted to said front pivoted part of the top portion, each of said brackets including an angularly downward extending arm pivoted to the top of the uppermost slat, eye bolts carried by said straps, said slats being formed with a roller tubular edge formed with slots to receive the eye end of the said bolts, said rolled edges serving as pivot pins Within said bolt eyes, to thereby provide a pivotal connection between the slats and the said straps, and actuator means connected to one of said slats for imparting movement to said slats toward an open or a closed lposition when actuated by an operator.

ROBERT F. WHITFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

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